A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brandes family of Germany.
Reg. 2500 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux fasces de gu., acc. de sept étoiles du même, 2 en chef, 3 entre les fasces et 2 en p. C.: sept roses de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin.”
GermanyTangermunde Prusse, c. 1765
Where the Brandes Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Brandes arms are recorded
The Brandes arms were recorded in Tangermunde Prusse, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Brandes arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Brandes Family in Germany
The surname Brandes is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a patronymic name derived from the ancient given name Brando. This name is connected to the Old High German word "brant," which refers to a sword or a burning torch. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Bavaria. During this era, families often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where their identity was closely tied to their local parish and agricultural work. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Brandes family were integrated into the social and economic fabric of Bavarian life, likely participating in the local trade or farming practices common to that period. As the family grew, they moved through the changing landscapes of Central Europe, carrying their name as a testament to their long-standing heritage in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brant
A sword or a burning torch.
This name
BrandesA patronymic surname referring to the son of a man named Brant.
also spelled
Brande
Brandess
Related arms
Brandtsvariant spelling
Conringrecorded with Brandes, same area
Klessenrecorded with Brandes, same area
Rohderecorded with Brandes, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
